Carrying apparatus.



' A. G. SMITH.

CARRYING APPARATUS. 'APPLICATION FILED oc'r. 1, 190s.

945,625. Patented JanL4, 1910.

-3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. C. SMITH.

CARRYING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED 001.'.1, wos.

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www@ Ilz/621222K A A., c. SMITH.

CARRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 1, 1908.

Patented Jan.4, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ANDREW. a. GRAHAM co muro-Llmosmmzns. WASHINGTON D c.

UNITED STASES PATENT OFFICE.

ASHLEY C. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CARRYING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ASHLEY C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carrying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a carrying apparatus of that type in which a Wheeled-carrier equipped with and supporting a car or receptacle for the material to be transferred from one place to another travels on an elevated track or cable, and while it is more particularly intended for use on farms and about the barns thereof, and for carrying silage, grain and other kinds of feed, manure or other material, yet it is applicable for handling and carrying coal, ashes, ice and the products of mills and factories; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set fort-h and specifically claimed.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a carrying apparatus ofthe abovenamed general character, which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable and eiiicient in operation, and so made, that when desired, the car may automatically dump its load at a predetermined point on the track or cable, or may be tilted to a suitable degree or position in order to enable its contents being easily removed by a fork, shovel or scoop.

Another and important .object of the invention is to provide a carrier for the car which shall be of suoli construction that it will travel over the curves and switches of the track or cable with the least amount of friction or resistance, thus rendering the apparatus practical for all classes of work.

A further object is to provide simple and cicient means for adjustably mounting the car on the carrier-frame to the end that it may be maintained at a convenient height in barns having high or low ceilings.

Still another object is to pro-vide a trip for automatically7 releasing the car, if desired, which shall be so made that it may be quickly and firmly secured to the track or Patented Jan. 4, 1910. Serial No. 455,684.

cable at any desired point in such a way as to offer but little obstruction to the wheels of the carrier, yet will afford positive tripping means when the carrier is traveling in either direction.

A further object is to provide a carrierframe of such construction that the car supported thereby may have a swinging or pivoted and independent movement thereof.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the subjoined description and explanation.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionpertains, to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of an elevated track or cable, showing a wheeled-carrier mounted thereon and supporting the car or receptacle for the material to be transferred, and illustrating one of the trips on the cable; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the tripping devices used on the cable or track for releasing the car or receptacle; Fig. 3 is an end view in elevation of a car or receptacle showing a part of the bail therefor in section, and illustrating means for holding the recept-acle in dierent positions; Fig. et is an enlarged View partly in sect-ion and partly in elevation of the wheeled-carrier for the car; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4 looking'in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing' one of the constructions of the carrier-frame; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the same line as Fig. 5, but showing a modification in the construction of the members of the carrier; Fig. 7 is a plan view partly in section and partly in elevation of the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, illustrating by dotted lines the positions some of the parts of the carrier will assume in turning a curve or switch; Figs. 8 and 9 i are plan views partly in section and partly in elevation of the carrier, showing other modifications in its construction; Fig. 10 is a detached perspective view of a portion of one of the hinge members of the carrierframe; and Fig. l1 is a similar view of a portion of another member thereof.

Like numerals of reference, refer to corresponding parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

The reference numeral 15 designates a portion of a cable or track which may be supported in an elevated position in the ordinary or any preferred manner, and may be supplied with curves and switches (not shown) so that. the car may be caused to travel thereon to different points and in various directions.

The car or receptacle for the material to be transferred is designated by the reference numeral 1G, and may be made of any suitable size, form and material, but. by preference, substantially rectangular in shape with its sides outwardly inclin-ed toward their top for the purpose of facilitating the emptying of its contents. Mounted on each end of the car 16 is a bracket 17, each of which has on its upper portion a segmental rack 18 which is provided with a series of recesses 19 on its upper surface to receive lockingbolts 2O used for holding the car in the desired position, or for releasing it, so that it may automatically discharge its load. Pivotally secured at its lower ends to the ends of the car 16 is a bail 21 which is preferably made of piping or tubing and about semicircular in shape, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and has a vertical slot 22 formed in its inner surface near each of its ends through which the locking-bolts 20 are extended, which bolts are. carried by weights 23 movably located in the lower portions of the bail. The upper end of each of the weights 23 has secured thereto a flexible connection 24 which are extended upwardly through the bail 21 and out through suitable openings 25 in its upper portion, and have their upper ends secured to the forks 26 of a trigger 27 which is pivotally secured to a pendent bracket 28 at a point below the cable or track 15, which bracket forms a part. of the carrier for the car or receptacle, and has its upper end provided with an overhanging part 29 which, together with the bracket 2S` forms the support for the wheelcarrying-members of the carrier-frame. The lower portion of the bracket 28 is provided with a series of openings 30 for the reception of bolts 31 used for securing thereto the adjustable holder 32 for the bail 21 of the car or receptacle, which holder is provided with a series of openings 30 for the bolts 31 and has at one of its ends two spaced-apart loops or yokes which embrace the upper portion of the bail 21, as is clearly shown in 1 and 5 of the drawings, in the former of which igures the holder 32 is shown as being secured to the bracket 2S so as to augment the distance between the car and cable or track 15, while in Fig. 5 it is shown in a reversed position or so as to lessen the distance therebetween. By this arrangement it is apparent that the car 16 may be adjusted to a convenient height for loading and unloading the same, whether or not the cable is located at a high or low point from the ground or tloor.

Transversely extended through the upper portion of the bracket 2S and the overhanging part 29 thereof is a bolt 34 on which is mounted at its inner end one of the wheelcarrying-members which is provided with prongs 36 at its outer end between which prongs is journaled a grooved wheel 37 to travel on the cable or track 15. The opposite end of the member is provided with a horizontally disposed extension 38 which has a vertically inclined opening 39 to receive a pintle 40 used for pivotally connecting the extension 3S of the member 35 to the horizontally disposed arms. or extensions 41 on the inner portion of the other wheel-carrying-member 42 which is prorided at its other end with prongs 43 between which is journaled a grooved wheel 47, of any desired construction and size.

As will be clearly seen by reference to Figs. 4, 5, 7, 10 and 11 of the drawings, the extension 38 of the member 35 is formed diagonally or slanting with respect thereto, and is slightly beveled toward the bracket 28 or in the direction of the curve of the track on which the wheels travel, and also that the adjacent surfaces of the extensions 41 on the member 42 are correspondingly inclined. It will also be observed by reference to said figures that the openings 39 in said extensions are vertically inclined yet will register with one another so as to receive the pintle 40 used for pivotally connecting said extensions together, for it will be understood that the extension 38 is interposed between the extensions 41 on the last-named member.

By employing the above-described construction. and arrangement of the wheel-carrying-members it is apparent that the member 42 will have a free and independent movement with respect to the member 35 and bracket 23 toward the latter in rounding a curve or running over a switch, as is indicated by dot-ted lines in Fig. 7 of the drawings. When the wheeled-carrier shall have passed the curve art of the track it is evident that the whce s 37 and 47 will be brought into alinement with one another. and that the shoulder 38"L on the extension 33 will engage the shoulder 42a on the member 42 of the carrier.

Instead of providing the members and 42 with the slanting and beveled extension 38 and the extensions 41, respectively, as above described, the member 35 may be provided with a horizontally disposed extension 41 to the extension 38 of the other member. When desired, the set-screws 51 and 52 may be loosened or removed, thus permitting the bracket 28 which carries the bail and car to swing longitudinally with respect to the wheel-carrying-members.

Mounted at ak suitable point or points on the cable or track 15 is a trip or tripping device for the trigger 27, which consists of a sleigh-like-runner, bar or piece 53, that is to say, it has each of its ends turned upwardly as at 54, and is provided on its upper portion with upright and spaced apart extensions 55, each of which is provided with a groove 56 to receive the cable or track. The bar 53 is provided at about its middle with an opening 57, and above said opening with a iiat horizontal portion 58 which unites the extensions 55 at their lower portions. The portion 58 of the trip has ex- 38b with parallel surfaces and without the slant as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and the member 42 may have extensions 41a with parallel adjacent surfaces as shown in Fig. 6 and above-described. In this modified construction the extension 38h is placed between the extensions 41 and pivotally held in such position by means of a pintle extended through an opening 39a which is vertically disposed in said extensions and without the slant as in the other construction. in other respects, the members 35 and 42 in this modified construction may be the same as that previously described.

In Figs. 8 and 9 are shown other modified forms of the carrier which consists, in the first instance, in connecting the members 35 and 42 together by means of a contracting spring 48 which is attached at its ends to projections 49 located on the forks of said members adjacent to the overhanging part 29 of the bracket 28 of the carrier, or, in other words, on the opposite side from the direction of the pivotal movement of the member 42 in turning a curve. In the construction shown in Fig. 9 the member 35 has secured to its fork 36 adjacent to the bracket 28 one end of a spring 50 the other end of which presses against one of the forks 43 of the member 42 and on that side thereof adjacent to the bracket. ln each of these constructions the extension 38 on the member 35 and extensions 41 on the member 42 may have their meeting surfaces disposed in a horizontal plane as shown in Fig. 6, or diagonally as shown in Figs. 5, 10 and 11, in which latter construction the openings 39 in said extensions will preferably be vertically inclined as shown, but I desire it understood that in some instances I may form the openings 39 in said extensions in any of the constructions in a vertical plane. By placing the springs 48 and 50 on the wheel-carrying-members as above-described, it is apparent that the contracting spring 48 employed in the construction illustrated in Fig. 8 will exert itself so as to bring the member 42, after it has passed over a curve, back into alinement with the member 35, and it is apparent that the same operation will the middle thereof a bolt 59 which is also extended through the overlapping bottom portions 60 and 61 of a clip 62 which is made of quite thin metal and is looped over the cable or tra-ck 15, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The overlapping bottom portions 60 and 61 of the clip 62 are secured to the portion 58 of the bar 53 by means of the bolt 59 and nuts thereon, so as to firmly hold the grooved extensions 55 against the lower surface of the track or cable. By employing the clip 62 made of very thin metal, it is apparent that very little obstruction will be offered to the wheels of the carrier as they pass back and forth thereover, and that as the ends of the bar 53 are curved and upwardly extended to near the cable they will strike the upper portion of the trigger 27 when the carrier is going in either direction, thus causing the trigger to be turned on its pivot and through the medium of the cables 24 to raise the weights 23 so as to remove the locking-pins 20 from the recesses 19 of the racks on the ends of the car, when the same will be permitted to turn on its bearings to either side of the bail and discharge its load.

t is sometimes desirable to tilt the car 1G to one side of the bail and to hold it in such position so that the contents, such as be performed by means of the spring 50 silage, grain or other kinds of feed, may be shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. lThe overg removed therefrom by means of a shovel, hanging part 29 has extended vertically fork or otherwise, and to permit of this through its top pair of set-screws 51 and 52, f operation one or two cords 24a are secured to the former of which rests on the upper suri the upper end of the trigger 27 and exface of the member 35 between the wheel 37 l tended downwardly on one or both sides of thereon and the bolt 34, while the screw 52 Il the bracket 28, and may be loosely conrests on the upper surface of the member 42, ,t nected to the bail 21 by means of eyes 63 thus holding said members against pivotal thereon, or otherwise, so that when the movement in a vertical plane on the bracket i operator pulls on one of the cords 24'nl the 28, but it will be understood that the member trigger 27 will be turned on its pivot. thus 42 will be permitted a lateral movement on 5 releasingl the pins 20 from the middle re-v the pivot-bolt 40 which secures its extensions i cesses of the racks 18 and permitting the tended through a suitable opening at about car to be turned to the desired inclination, l and a pair of screws located in the top of when by releasing' the cords the lockingpins 20 will again engage one of the recesses 19 ot' the racks and hold the car in its inclined or tilted position.

It will be obvious from the above description that the apparatus is susceptible of considerable modification without material departure from the principles and spirit of the invention, and for this reason l do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the precise form and arrangement of the several parts of the device as herein set forth in carrying outl my invention in practice.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, isM

l. A carrier consisting ot two members hinged together attheir inner ends for lateral movement, a wheel journaled on the outer portion of each of said members, and a bracket pivotally connected to one ot said members between the said wheels.

2. A carrier consisting of two members hinged together at their inner ends, a wheel journaled on the outer end of each of said members, a bracket pivotally connected to one of said members between said wheels, and a set-screw located in the bracket and adapted to engage the member to which the bracket is secured.

9). A carrier consisting of two members hinged together at their inner ends t'or lateral movement. a wheelr journaled on the outer end of each of said members, a bracket pivotally secured to one otI said members between said wheels, and a pair of setscrews located in the bracket and adapted to engage said members.

4. A carrier consisting ot' two members hinged together at` their inner ends, a wheel journaled on the outer end of each ot' said members, a pendent bracket connected at its upper portion to one of said members, and supporting means adjustablv secured tor vertical movement on the lower portion. of the bracket.

A carrier consistingl ot two members hinged together at their inner ends, a wheel journaled on the outer end ot each ot said members, a pendent bracket having at its upper end an overhanging part connected to one of said members between said wheels, and a screw located in the top of the overhanging part of the. bracketl and adapted to engage one of said members.

6. A carrier consisting ot two members hinged together at their inner ends, a wheel journaled on the outer end ot each ot said members, a pendent bracket having at its upper end an overhanging part connected to one of said members between said wheels,

the overhanging part of the bracket and adapted to engage said members.

7. A carrier consisting of two members hinged together at their inner ends and each having a pair of prongs at its outer portion, a wheel journaled between the prongs of each of said members, and a bracket secured to one of said members between said wheels.

S. A carrier consisting of two members biturcated at their outer portions and hinged together at their inner portions for lateral movement with respect to one another, a wheel journaled in the biturcated portion of each of said members, a. pendent bracket connected at its upper portion to one of said members, and supporting means secured to the lower portion ot' said bracket.

9. A carrier consisting of two members each having at its inner end a diagonally disposed extension pivotally connected together, a wheel journaled on the outer portion ot' each ol said members, and a bracket secured to one oitl said members between said wheels.

10. A carrier consisting of two members one of which is provided with a beveled extension and the other ot' which is provided with a pair ot spaced apart extensions bevu eled on their meeting surfaces, the said exs tensions pivotally connected together, a wheel journaled on the outer portion of each otl said members, and a bracket secured to one of said members between said wheels.

ll. A carrier consisting of two members hinged together at their inner ends for lateral movement in one direction, means to cause said members to aline with one another, a wheel ournaled on the outer portion ot each of said members, and a bracket connected to one ot said members between the said wheels.

l2. A carrier consisting or two members hinged together at their inner ends for lateral movement in one direction, means to cause said members to aline with one another, a wheel journaled on the outer portion ot' each or' said members, a pendent bracket connected at its outer portion to one of said members, and supporting means secured to the lower portion of the bracket.

13. A carrier consisting of two members hinged together at their inner ends for lateral movement in one direction, means to cause said members to aline with one another, a wheel journaled on the outer portion ot each of said members, a pendent bracket connected at its outer portion to one of said members, and supporting means ad'justably secured on the lower portion ot' the bracket.

lll. A carrier consisting of two members hinged together at their inner ends for lateral movement in one direction. means to cause said members to aline with one another, a wheel journaled on the outer portion of each of said members, a pendent bracket having,- at its upper end an overhanging part connected to one of said members between said wheels, a screw located in the top of the overlianging part of the bracket, and supporting means secured on the lower portion of the bracket.

l5. A carrier consisting of two members bifurcated at their` outer portions and hinged together at their inner portions for lateral movement with respect to one another, means to cause said members to aline with one another, a wheel journaled in the bifurcated portion of each of said members, a bracket secured to one of said members between said wheels, and supporting means on said bracket.

16. A carrier consisting` of two members one of which is provided with a beveled eX- I tension and the other of which is provided with a pair of spaced apart extensions bevn eled on their adjacent surfaces, the said eX- tensions pivotally connected together, a wheel journaled on the outer portion of each of said members, a pendent bracket secured at its upper portion to one of said members, and supporting` means secured on the lower portion of the bracket.

17. A carrier consisting` of two members hinged together at their inner ends for lateral movement in one direction, a springengaging at its ends the said members to cause them to aline with one another, a wheel journaled on the outer portion of each of said members, and a bracket connected at one of its ends to one of said members.

ASHLEY C. SMITH.

Vitnesses CHAs. C. TiLLMAN, M. A. N YMAN. 

